ALL the awesomeness @RaceToTheStones with @rhianonruns @EPETJOE @mranger90 😃Have a great race you 3 👣☀️👍 #rtts100 by runningdutchie http://ift.tt/1HkffH9
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ALL the awesomeness @RaceToTheStones with @rhianonruns @EPETJOE @mranger90 😃Have a great race you 3 👣☀️👍 #rtts100 by runningdutchie http://ift.tt/1HkffH9
Such an awesome running weekend with @wmn.run100 & @ar_collective . I was so busy chatting, running, drinking and eating that I only have 1 photo. And this is it...me looking slightly bewildered at just completing my 45th mile of the weekend! Thank you everyone I ran with, you made it a special one! Too many to people mention but you know who you are. ❤️🏃💨 #wmnrun100 #ARcollective #rtts100 #ARbridgesultra by emmzos http://ift.tt/1FKMFx3
thames tow path 100 miles
first race for 2015 signed up for. 10 am 2nd may 2015 - 100 miles in no more than 28 hours. feck!
By starterfour10 - Massive thanks to @writethisrun for their super event last night. Hearing and meeting to fab twitter types. 😘 http://ift.tt/1o0lry5
5 women. 23 laps. 230km. 24 hours. Running doesn’t get much more inspiring than this.
After 24 miles each step on these ankles felt like a lightning bolt. I’m so damn proud of these feet and glad they stepped up to the challenge. #tr24
Sorrell attagirlattagirl at Race to the Stones
Sorrell: Race to the Stones race report
I didn’t really know what to expect with this race. Maybe I went into it a little unprepared in that sense; I didn’t know the exact gradient of each hill, I didn’t have an hourly weather forecast, and the watch that I was borrowing had just run out of battery. But I guess if your mind and your legs are in the right place then that’s what matters most. I wanted to not give it too much thought, do my best to enjoy it, and most importantly get to the finish line. In the Spring I’d closed off the idea of running any ultras until my legs got a little older, wanting to focus mainly on speed. So with this in mind, I’m grateful for our team of TNF ladies in opening up a door that was half closed, and I’m fortunate to know a friend as willing as my pacer for the day, James, who ushered me into a challenge that I struggled to digest at first, and one that I wouldn’t have decided to do on my own.
Standing in a field filled with nerves and lycra, we said goodbye and good luck to the others, and calmly waited just behind the starting line amongst many athletic men, with an Ironman visor here and a sponsor there. I started to wonder if I was out of my depth, but before I had time to give this much more thought, the horn sounded and we began sprinting out as a pack through supporters, and into a cordoned pathway. We were almost instantly into the country, and thankfully the pace, and my Darth Vader-esque breathing, settled. Coming up to a man in a kilt (Marathon Man UK), and within a short while running together, we discovered that he was actually in the middle of running a marathon a day for a year, and had had an hours sleep, so we couldn’t exactly grumble. We spent the first half of the race enjoying the simple motion of running.Trying to take in the views, running down shaded trails, and marching up hills where we had to. Our legs set into a comfortable rhythm and we got through a number of aid stations. These really helped to break the race into more psychologically manageable chunks. They were placed at every 10K or so and were manned with staff that offered genuine encouragement and help every time we passed through.
At marathon distance we high-fived, had a celebratory walk, and for a good few miles I was more than grateful to be where we were. I couldn’t think of a nicer place to be running, and I felt lucky to be able to take my mind off what we were actually doing. We were almost halfway as we reached the 48K aid station, and we were in good spirits. I was glad to see that an American gent that we joined for part of the way was now making tracks. He contemplated pulling out at the half way point as he had a few chest problems. Instead, he casually sat in a chair, had a 20 minute nap, and went on to finish the whole thing. At this point James told me encouragingly that we were on for a good time, and that I could maintain the position that I was in. One of the strongest aspects of the race was James’ ability to stay calm and re-route any negativity into something positive. He didn’t moan until the long stretches that we both hated were over, and he kept his own battles to himself in exchange for spurring on others. Upon seeing the second-placed lady pass through the barriers of the markers behind me, I took these words and changed a goal of finishing to one of bringing home some bacon to do our Still Waters and Run Dem ladies proud. I didn’t want to waste the effort James had gone to get me here, so now I really had to try.
With some kind words from the supporters, and a banana or two, we set off running again, but now, despite the scenery, and sunshine that I would usually call glorious, the pressure of having competition so close behind combined with the heat, brought a feeling of despair that came in waves. In an attempt to remove this negativity I tried to focus on more simple tasks such as sipping water, following the rhythmic motion of the red and white trainers in front, letting my mind float off at a tangent and mumbling some Fleetwood Mac to myself. I could feel that the lady behind was right on my tail and at this point I didn’t care what happened anymore. Even if I was last at least we were representing women in a predominantly male field, that was all that mattered. I began to warn Craig, a Welsh runner that we met along the way, that it was probable I would cry in the next 20 miles, and that I was sorry. I didn’t know if I was strong enough to maintain our stride, and all I wanted to do was get to the next aid station. He told me to remember where we were and how far we’d come, and with these words we hit a downhill trail. The rain that we had waited for all day started bucketing down, and that black cloud of despair lifted. Craig got ahead, and James and I mustered up a second wind as we sprinted through these showers for about a mile. We were soaked, but I didn’t give a shit if my phone got drenched. I didn’t care about the nettles on my legs, and I was over the nausea that came every now and then. All I wanted to do was to get to the finish, and with the final aid station ticked off, the last uphill done, it finally seemed like we had it insight.
Meeting the runners that we had seen at in the beginning was one of the best parts of this final stretch. Albeit we were all looking much more haggered and broken than 10 hours ago, but we encouraged our aching bodies as best as we could, and tried to get those that were walking to run again. One thing that I learnt on the Ridgeway in moments like this is that if we force ourselves, we can overcome many weaknesses that we face in life. Irrespective of running, or of miles clocked, when you’re faced with a mental barrier that you force yourself to overcome, I guess it enables you to understand a little bit more about the word strength.
With 3 kilometers to go and the Stones in sight we discovered our friend Ash on a hill ready to run us home for the final part. I’ve still got no idea how he timed it, or how long he’d been waiting there, but this meant that we could paste on a smile and use the last of our energy to sprint finish the last 400m, crossing the finish line to a position of 19th and 20th, and a collective effort of first lady home.
The support on Saturday was second to none. From runners, to staff, to the repeat cheerers driving around in their cars to shout words of encouragement, I’m extremely grateful. I’m also extremely proud of all of our tnfultrateam ladies for taking on the challenge and showing the Chilterns who’s boss, with each team member finishing, as well as 3 more top 10 ladies.
Cracking views, wonderful support, and even better company. Race to the Stones, you were a beauty.
Sponsored runner Maja as she took on the Race to the Stones last weekend. Well done Maja.
by stillwatersrundeepmcr - #tbt to that time when co-captain Sorrell Walsh took 1st Lady at the Race To The Stones 100km ultra marathon. Oh wait, that was only last weekend..? Now that’s how you up your game. #SWRDmcr #StillWatersRunDeepmcr #SorrellWalshIsMyHero #RTTS #TheNorthFace #UpYourGame #MakingWaves #TrueNorthernRunners http://ift.tt/WKx5md
We have a team for this years Hood to Coast relay. A group of #VOLTWOMEN will run 320K over 24hrs - each runner will run three legs of 10k from Mount Hood to the Oregon coast - They are a team of global runners and we hope they’ll inspire people to run, and we hope you’ll do the same.
Voltwomen is not defined by a made team, but by individual power running to build oneself and support others - running to #ELEVATEWOMENSRUNNING worldwide we look forward to build it even more with you.
#DIY #ELEVATEWOMENSRUNNING #RUNNING #JUSTDOIT #HTC14 #HTC14VOLTWOMEN
Sitting on a bench, watching the world go by, allowing the mind to slowly reset itself. All part of the post-race recovery process #RTTS100 #CPWRacetothestones
It doesn't matter where you're coming from. All that matters is where you are going
Picture from @RacetotheStones
Kabuki Race Report - This Race Was Personal
When I entered Race to the Stones, I wanted to see whether I could shorten the time it took me to complete my prior 100k from London to Brighton of 18:56 where the emphasis would be switching from walking with some running to running with some walking. I trained, I planned and I quietly expected more from myself than I was willing to say. I had also applied and was excited to be accepted into a team of women who were going to be sponsored by North Face. As part of this team, I was not competing with my teammates but rather we were hoping to encourage other women to take up something new and unexpected. I knew I wouldn’t be fast and however based on my training races, I did expect that at least I would complete in no more than 15 hours possibly 14:30 at a push depending on conditions. In the past, I would be very willing during the race to let go of the goal if things changed however this time it was very personal. A friend had just been diagnosed with cancer and as I tried to distract him I said I was going to channel my anger at his diagnosis; he said he wished he had some of my inner and outer strength and asked if I had any I could loan. I wished I could bottle up energy and give it to him but sadly I can’t so I decided that I wanted to “leave it all on the Ridgeway” since I couldn’t transfer it. Waking up on Sunday morning to find out my completion time was 15:59:45 was disappointing; I felt as though I hadn’t done enough.
Since then, I have had some time to reflect and digest.
Race day began on Saturday 19th July at 4:40 am - I had a quick shower, dressed and had a liquid breakfast. Hannah and I rode together – the cab picked her up first, I boarded 30 mins later and we were dropped off in a field in Chinnor by 6:50. We got ready, used the portaloos, photos, chit chat and headed to the start line. After some announcements we started off gently. As communicated, the course was pretty narrow in some places, which was a little claustrophobic. However eventually it would spread out which is what I have come to love about these events – you can be by yourself for ages.
After the first pit stop, I noticed a tightening in my right hamstring, which was followed by a pain in both of the arches in my feet. At the third pit stop I broke down in tears – with 69kms to go how the hell was I going to muster and continue with the pain? I called my husband Ken and he reminded me that I was going to have these moments of struggle. I messaged sixsecondshigh and he suggested some things to do to help the pain and like Ken offered some motivation. I paused, stretched, regrouped and reminded myself that
I was healthy.
I was doing something I chose to do and loved doing.
And that I was going to finish this race no matter what – my pansy ass whining was nothing compared to what Chris was experiencing so buck up and dig deep.
Essentially - Fuck the tears, I was going to battle through like Boudicca.
I was now firmly in walk/run territory. Walk, run, wince, walk, run, wince, walk, over and over again. On a city run, I suspect this would have been soul destroying but in the countryside, the landscape and conditions keep you distracted and guessing. The course was hillier than expected and while there were some very beautiful segments, the weather made it quite tricky. Hard clay becomes very slippery in rain, there were segments that were totally without cover in the hot sun, lots of running technique testing ridges, rocks, and mud! I was still on target for a sub 15 finish until two things happened. A hail storm which was challenging to run through. In the end, I had to wait it out, deal with my drenched scary looking feet and my shoes which were lined with small stones. The second thing that happened just before Pit Stop 8, I began to notice the tight band gripping the top of my left foot and up my shin. I left the pit stop without seeing the medic as I needed to keep going however within 5 mins I could hardly move or keep upright. I stretch again and managed a painful speed walk. The small spurts of running, jogging or even shuffling were firmly off the cards. There were more stones in my shoes but stubbornly I refused to stop and remove them even though I knew that they might lead to blisters. It was time I couldn’t afford. Instead I found myself gripping my toes like a claw – dumb I know but that’s the benefit of hindsight. The “undulating” course a.k.a. “fuck you inclines” continued…seriously how did I miss this? By this time, I had totally forgotten I was part of a team, my watch decided to power down as it only had 3% battery left and I desperately wanted to finish! I soldiered on in the darkness until I saw a bunch of disheartened people saying to me “nice work”, “good job” etc as they shuffled by in what seemed to be the wrong direction if they had finished. I remembered that to finish the race, there was a little trot around “The Stones” in the darkness and then a loop back to the finish - Oh my god! Seriously? I was now deranged angry and on the verge of tears again. I gritted my teeth and got to the finish line with a fake smile to receive my medal. I found Ken and Biscuit, hobbled over to hug Hannah who was camping and we cabbed back to the B&B.
I took off my clothes and shoes to find what can only be described as trench foot. My feet were pruned and blistered and I could no longer carry any weight on my left leg. The waves of nausea began, followed by a very upset stomach and my body temperature began plummeting. I tried to have a shower to clean off the layers of mud but in the end I sat in the corner of the shower tray, too tired to really do anything and asking myself for the umpteenth time why do I do this?
Why?
On a good day or a bad day, I am present in my mind and body in a very real way. I am able to channel through my darkness and overcome if needed. I am reminded of what I have, should be thankful for and what I can achieve. In the end, I completed this race and I shaved 2 hours, 56 mins and 15 seconds off my time. I didn’t make the 15 hour target but considering the size of my foot three days later, so what! I am proud that I finished it and honored to have been part of The North Face Ultra team who completed this journey with their epic stories and memories.
Finally, this race was personal.
Chris - I wish I could take away your illness and I wish I could give you my fight but since I can’t, I want to thank you for being a good friend and amazing colleague and I dedicate this race to you and your battle ahead.
Dodging the rain. When it rained, it rained hard #RTTS100 #CPWRacetothestones
THIS sign. Always welcome on Saturday. From @Racetothestones
Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast. You also miss a sense of where you are going and why.
Running through the poppy fields on Race to the Stones. Photo by @Pushechek